DAKAR, Jan 31: For a foreign correspondent in Mali, the assignment initially appeared to be a dream come true. Amidst rising turmoil from Islamic extremists in the region, French journalist Olivier Dubois managed to secure a rare interview with a leader of JNIM, al-Qaida’s affiliate in the Sahel.
However, the situation quickly turned dire. On his way to the interview in Gao, northern Mali, in April 2021, Dubois, a correspondent for Liberation and Jeune Afrique, was abducted.
He endured 711 days in desert captivity, often chained to a tree, surviving on dried goat meat and plotting his escape. Nearly two years post-release, he shares his harrowing experience in a book released in France, which heavily references notes he secretly maintained during his captivity, written on whatever scraps of paper he could find.
“One of the key elements that enabled me to endure and survive was the belief that I am a journalist,” Dubois stated in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press for English-language media since his release. “I continued to gather information, ask questions, and went on as if I was still working.”
In recent years, the Sahel countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have been destabilized by military coups, now governed by military juntas that are grappling with escalating extremist violence, with kidnappings becoming a pivotal aspect of their strategy in the region.
Upon his release, an investigation by French media uncovered that Dubois’s fixer had collaborated with French intelligence, assisting them in locating the extremist leader he intended to interview.
Dubois acknowledged the risks of his project but admitted he had placed too much trust in his fixer, overlooking warning signs.
“I’m uncertain,” he remarked regarding the circumstances surrounding his abduction. “It feels like a betrayal. Yet, the motive behind that betrayal remains unclear. I have not spoken to my fixer since my release.”
Kidnappings have surged in the Sahel, according to the US-based Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
JNIM, the al-Qaida branch operating in the Sahel, is responsible for the majority of the 1,468 kidnappings in the Sahel and Benin between 2017 and 2025, as per ACLED data. The group relies on ransom payments to sustain their operations and instill fear within local communities.
Dubois recalled being informed that he would be “released quickly” provided his family and government complied with certain demands.
Released on March 20, 2023, in Agadez, Niger, the specifics of his release, including whether a ransom was paid, remain undisclosed.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced via the social platform X, “Olivier Dubois is free,” but did not provide further details regarding the conditions of his release.
Dubois mentioned to AP that he too was unaware of the details, but remembered being informed by the rebels that ransom amounts differed by nationality—he was reportedly valued at 10 million euros as a French citizen, compared to 50 million for a South African.
Having reported on numerous hostage situations in the region, Dubois was aware that even after being freed, his ordeal could linger on.
To maintain his sanity, he became fixated on devising an escape plan. However, following four unsuccessful attempts, his captors staged a mock execution, warning him that further attempts would result in his death. Consequently, Dubois turned to reading the Quran.
Engaging with the holy book served a dual purpose: it preoccupied his mind and allowed him to better understand his captors, facilitating discussions and fostering a more humane relationship rather than being treated as just another anonymous hostage.
Unexpectedly, it also set him on a spiritual journey.
“I was an atheist, then an agnostic thinking I would stop there,” he shared. “Reading the Quran sparked an interest in exploring other religious texts. This captivity marks the inception of a journey that may lead me to God—or not.”
Now that his book—“Prisonnier du désert, 711 jours aux mains d’Al-Qaïda,” which translates to “Prisoner of the Desert, 711 Days in the Hands of Al-Qaida”—has been published, Dubois expressed hope that he was prepared to return to journalism and move forward.
Yet, the experience continues to haunt him.
“Writing it was a painful process,” he reflected on the experience. “After completing it, my first instinct was to distance myself from the narrative, hoping time would heal and allow me to move on. But I’m not sure that’s truly possible.” (AP)
